Those who got tickets or had their vehicles impounded during the snow emergency that resulted from a 16-inch snowfall certainly had plenty of warning.

As of Thursday, Westland Police reported that they ticketed 82 people for failing to get their vehicles off the street and impounded 21 vehicles. Once a snow emergency is declared, all street parking is prohibited until the emergency is lifted.

"We were able to get numerous others to move (their vehicles) voluntarily," said Westland Deputy Police Chief Brian Miller, who oversees the patrol division. "At the Westland Police Department, our goal is to get the streets cleared as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Getting the public to voluntarily comply when a snow emergency is declared allows everyone to do their job more efficiently, Miller said.

"The police department is then free to answer the day-to-day calls for service that do not stop because of the snow emergency," he said.

The snow emergency remained in effect until 4 p.m. Thursday to allow DPS crews to complete clearing streets.

"When vehicles are left on the street and have to be plowed around, this creates a hazard since police and fire emergency vehicles may be delayed in their response because of a partially blocked roadway," Miller said. "This hazard is over and above the headache it causes for residents who live on these streets and have to drive down them."

The police department will always look for voluntary compliance during snow emergencies but will continue to ticket and tow vehicles that do not comply, Miller said.